Birmingham City vs Man City Preview

Goalkeeper Maik Taylor will make his first Premiership start of the season for Birmingham City, while Manchester City have a number of players back in contention.
First choice Birmingham ‘keeper Joe Hart is on loan from Man City and so is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Back from injury for Alex McLeish’s side are defensive [...] http://bit.ly/4f5eWL

Manchester Utd v Blackburn Preview

Central defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are both doubtful for Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United side, while Blackburn defender Christophe Samba is still sidelined with swine flu.
Both Ferdinand and Vidic are suffering with calf injuries, so Wes Brown and Johnny Evans may start.
Definitely out for United are midfielders Park Ji-Sung and Darren Fletcher, striker [...] http://bit.ly/WrSfn

Sunderland vs West Ham Preview

Both sides have a number of injury concerns ahead of West Ham United’s visit to Sunderland.
For the home side, the fitness of striker Darren Bent is the main concern. The player has a knee problem and has been rated as 50/50 by Sunderland boss Steve Bruce.
The injury is compounded by a knock to fellow striker [...] http://bit.ly/2ZE9w

Stoke v Wolves Match Preview

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen will return for Tony Pulis’ Stoke City, while on-loan defender Michael Mancienne is back in contention for Wolves.
Mancienne has missed the last two matches with illness but is fit enough to start for Mick McCarthy’s side.
Centre forward Stefan Maierhofer returns from suspension, but it is likely that Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Kevin Doyle [...] http://bit.ly/3A04I7

Portsmouth v Wigan Match Preview

A number of players cup-tied in midweek will return for Paul Hart’s Portsmouth; while Wigan will run the rule over goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.
Wigan ‘keeper Kirkland has a dislocated finger and may be replaced by veteran Mike Pollitt.
Definitely out for the Latics is full back Maynor Figueroa who has a knee injury and will miss 6-7 [...] http://bit.ly/2DzGDd

Fulham vs Liverpool Preview

Liverpool duo Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson are out for the visit of Fulham who are hopeful that ex-Red Danny Murphy will be fit enough to start.
Former Liverpool midfielder Murphy has been out for 10 days with a knee injury, but Fulham boss Roy Hodgson expects the player will be in contention.
Still out for Fulham [...] http://bit.ly/1SbE6K

Everton v Aston Villa Preview

Left back Leighton Baines could return from a calf problem for Everton against an Aston Villa side who may be missing their own left back, Stephen Warnock.
Warnock picked up an ankle injury in midweek and is set to be replaced by Nicky Shorey.
Returning for manager Martin O’Neill’s side, however, will be goalkeeper Brad Friedel, striker [...] http://bit.ly/1CDqqp

Burnley vs Hull Team Preview

Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill is out of the Hull City squad that will visit a Burnley side who may be missing a first choice ‘keeper of their own.
Burnley number 1, Brian Jensen, will be given “every chance” to be fit by manager Owen Coyle after the ‘keeper suffered ankle ligament damage during Burnley’s match with Wigan. [...] http://bit.ly/4f1kIx

Bolton vs Chelsea Match Preview

Salomon Kalou is rated doubtful for Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea, while home side Bolton Wanderers are set to bring back Kevin Davies after the striker was rested for the midweek Carling Cup match.
Davies will return to lead the line while the fit again Johan Elmander will be on the bench, alongside Ivan Klasnic, who scored the [...] http://bit.ly/16swDd

Arsenal v Spurs Preview

Manuel Almunia is set to return to goalkeeping duties for Arsenal, while Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp may hand a start to David Bentley.
Bentley looked sharp in Spurs’ midweek Carling Cup match and with winger Aaron Lennon doubtful with an ankle problem, Bentley is the most likely replacement.
Elsewhere, Peter Crouch will again partner Robbie Keane in [...] http://bit.ly/1bMZ49

Davenport Hit With Assault Charge

West Ham United defender Calum Davenport has been charged with assault after an incident in which the player was stabbed in both legs.
The player was stabbed outside his mother’s home in August of this year after an alleged argument with Davenport’s sister’s boyfriend, Worrell Whitehurst. Whitehurst has been charged with stabbing Davenport.
The West Ham United [...] http://bit.ly/20VzGG

Duffen Resigns, Pearson Returns?, Brown Leaves?

Paul Duffen has resigned his position as chairman of Hull City amid concerns about the financial stability of the club and the poor start to the new Premiership season.
Duffen released a statement confirming his departure:
“When I succeeded Adam Pearson as chairman of Hull City Football Club in June 2007 I was very aware of the [...] http://bit.ly/xarKm

Didn't You Do Well...Now Go Away

Here's the thing : seeding in football - or any other sport for that matter - is a fair and reasonable thing to do.Otherwise, you might end up with a World Cup 2010 qualification group that consisted of Germany, England, Spain and Russia. And, yes, while that may be more exciting than the World Cup itself, it's not unreasonable to keep the best teams apart in order to ensure a thrilling and http://bit.ly/5WdK1

Gary Megson : Not Such A Rubbish Manager After All

Sometimes football fans, in particular Premier League football fans, surprise me with their attitudes to particular players or managers in the game.

Let's take Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson as an example. Getting past the (faintly ironic) 'Ginger Mourinho' chants when he took over, it's fair to say that the Bolton faithful haven't taken to the ex-West Brom man.

The question I have to ask is why?

Megson took over from Sammy Lee when Wanderers were struggling badly and with star man Nicolas Anelka on his way out of the club.

While the manager didn't cover himself with glory that season, he did keep the club up and that was what he was asked to do. Chairman Phil Gartside told him to balance the books and again : job done.

Since then Megson has proved surprisingly astute in the transfer market : he's brought in talent like Gary Cahill and Matt Taylor - both with proven Premiership quality.

Add to that more recent acquisitions like Tamir Cohen and the South Korean, Lee, and you can't deny that Megson is doing a good job with extremely limited funds.

Bolton fans need to get off Megson's back - he's doing as good a job as can be done and is bringing through good players that will make the club a profit in the long run.

Doing this and keeping Bolton in the Premiership is something to be applauded, not decried.

Accountants Concerned Over Hull Finances

Auditors Deloitte have raised concerns over the financial viability of Hull City FC should they be relegated from the Premiership this season.
Accounts for the club for the period ending July 31st 2009 have finally been filed with Companies House, five months late, after the accountants raised “significant doubt about the company’s ability to continue as [...] http://bit.ly/3gBMih

Premier League Transfer Gossip

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these, but luckily, in the weird world of football transfer gossip, there is always an unlikely story or two to comment on.
Firstly, The Sun are claiming that Atletico Madrid want £42m for Sergio Aguero and that Chelsea are ‘leading the chase’ to buy the player. This [...] http://bit.ly/254SZT

Ferguson Accepts Improper Conduct Charge

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted an F.A charge of improper conduct.
The charge relates to comments Ferguson made about the physical condition of referee Alan Wiley after United’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland.
The referee’s Union, Prospect, has called for Ferguson to be banned from the touchline after the Manchester United manager said that Wiley [...] http://bit.ly/2GvS06

Swine Flu Hits Bolton and Blackburn

Three members of Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers squad have been hit by swine flu, while Bolton boss Gary Megson has confirmed that the virus has also affected his players.
Megson has said that four of his squad have come down with, and recovered from, the illness. The Bolton boss is quoted as saying :
“You are going [...] http://bit.ly/4B8B2d